Sleeping bag



April 11, 1950 Filed March 10, 1947 L. WATERWORTH SLEEPING BAG 2Sheets-Sheet 1 April 11, 1950 WATERWORTH 2,503,427

SLEEPING BAG Filed March 10, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apra 11,1950 UNITED STATES OFFICE 4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a sleeping bag for confining childrenin certain positions in a bed, yet allowing movement to other positionsand preventing climbing or crawling from its supporting bed, for safetyand other purposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved sleepingbag characterized by its simplicity of construction and inexpensivenessof manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsleeping bag characterized especially by the fact that a child hascomplete freedom of movement of its arms and hands for any use that hemight desire, such as holding his bottle or toys, or rubbing his nose oreyes, etc., the chest, stomach and legs of the child bein confinedwithin the bag itself.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsleeping bag particularly applicable for the child over six months ofage when it becomes increasingly difficult to keep him in a crib or bedor covered without extraordinary measures, the bag being capable ofenlargement both for length and circumference as the child grows andbeing sufiicient in itself to maintain the child in different sizedcribs without the necessity of raising a side thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsleeping bag adaptable for use in different sized cribs, baby buggiesand beds either of the full or twin size, by adjusting the length of tiestraps, fastening means and se curing them to side rails, springs,spring sup :ports or other suitable place whereby the bag may be usednot only at home, but also in traveling or visiting.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sleeping bag in which theinfant or child cannot reverse its original position to the extent ofbecoming uncovered, yet allows enough freedom of movement so that theinfant or child can move freely from side to side, or from abdomen toback, or vice versa, depending upon what position the child was placedin the device, and the position of course being decided by the sleepinghabits of the infant or child. It also will allow some longitudinalmovement, and will allow the child to sit up.

Another object of the invention is to provide a comfortable device,which, by its construction, i

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movement of the legs within the bag are not hampered in any way; and thedesign of the yoke which 'covers the childs chest or back, depending onwhich position the child is placed in it, and the placement .of theshoulder straps on the yoke is such that there is no strain on any vitalparts, and in no way wouldit be possible for the child to becomestrangled .or smothered.

Another object of my invention :is "to :provide a sanitary andeconomical covering for the child. By its construction, it is easilylaundried and covers a large sized crib "in its entirety, with theexception of the space left for the shoulders and head of the child, andby placing a diaper or any other object suitable in size over thisportiOn of the bed, sheets being unnecessary, thus saving additionalexpense.

The features of the present invention which are believed to 'be novelare set forth with particularity'in the appended claims. This inventionitself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and .ad-

vantages thereof, may be *best understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows 'a sleeping bag incorporating the presentinventionaliixed in :achilds bed with the child confined therein in sittingposition, the child being of the type which likes to sleep on its back.

Figure 2 is a view in plan elevation of a portion of the sleeping bagshown :in Figure 1, the flexible cloth of the bagitself being extendedto show more clearly the construction thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the under side of the sleeping :bagarrangement shown in Figure ,2.

Figure 4 is a view showing the child in the sleeping bag of Figure 1lying on its stomach.

Figure 5 shows another child placed in the sleeping bag :shown in Figure1 but in this case the child is of the type which likes to sleep on itsstomach, but has raised to a sitting Position.

Figure '6 is a plan View of the component parts of the sleeping bagshown in Figure 1 in disassembled form prior to sewing.

Figure 7 is a View similar to the view shown in Figure but some of theparts are disassembled and extended to more clearly indicate the mannerin which the bag .is fabricated.

Figure-8 is a perspective View of the bag shown in Figure l with theflexible cloth portions there- 'of extended to more clearly indicate themanner in which the individual elements are :sewed together to form thebag.

A characterizing feature of the present invention is that the bag for achild shown herein may be used alike for either back sleepers or stomachsleepers and in either case the childs shoulders and arms are exposedand he is allowed to roll from side to side or to move from a proneposition to a sitting position, or vice versa.

The sleeping bag itself has a plurality of component parts stitchedtogether, the parts being of cloth, such as muslin, heavy weight cotton,or other like material, with fastening means associated therewith formaintaining the bag in a crib or bed and with fastening means forholding a child therein, the child being maintained in the bag byfastening means which may incorporate a so-called zipper to allow thebaby to be slipped into the bag or removed therefrom. In this respect Iprefer to use heavy muslin or material of that type because of itsstrength and smoothness which does not stick to the childs sleepers,thus allowing freedom of movement. However, any type of similar materialcould be used if additional warmth is desired. While I prefer to use azipper fastener, it is apparent that other fastening means may be used,such as snaps, hooks, buttons and the like.

Referring to Figure 6, the individual component cloth portions of thebag may be catalogued as follows: a rectangularly shaped piece I8 ofdimensions substantially equal in width but somewhat smaller in lengththan a standard size baby mattress to allow room at the upper end of themattress for the head and shoulders of the child, the piece I!) having aplurality of elongated fastening tabs ll sewed thereon, the fasteningtabs ll being of suificient length either to be secured to the side railor spring of a baby bed or to extend underneath the full width of theaforesaid mattress upon which it is placed and tied to the correspondingfastening tab on the adjacent edge of the part ID; a trapezoidal part 28having four edges 2|, 22, 23 and 24, the edge 2| being sewed or stitchedby conventional type of seams, such as a flat felled seam, to thecorresponding edge l3 of the part l8; a top part 38 of substantiallytrapezoidal shape having edges 3|, 32, 33 and 34, the edge 3| beingsewed or stitched to the corresponding edge 23 of the part 28 and azipper 38 centrally located therein extending longitudinally of the part38 and substantially parallel to the plurality of the size adjustingpleats 31 which are stitched only at the edge 34 to provide fullness; apair of triangularly shaped parts 48 and 58 having respectively edges4|, 42, 43 and edges 52, 53, the apexes of the triangular portions 48,58 being at the foot end of the bag with edges 4| of the part 48 sewedto the edge 32 of the part 38 and with the edge 5| of the part 58 sewedto the edge 33 of the part 38; a pair of substantially rectangular parts68 and 18, respectively, having edges 6|, 82, 63 and 64 and edges H, 12,13 and 14, edge 6| being sewed to edge 43 of the part 48 and edge 1|being sewed to edge 53 of the part 58; a part 88 having edges 8|, 82,83, 84 and 85, and edges 85 and 81 separated by a cutout or reentrantportion 88 in the part 88, edges 86 and 81 being sewed to the edge l4 ofthe part l8; and a pair of shoulder fastening straps 89 sewed to thepart 88, the free ends of the straps 89, comprising tapes sewed theretofor purposes of flexibility and ease of fastening, are fastened tosuitable fastening means on the top part 38 comprising a pair of spacedloops 38 and 39 sewed 0n the upper edge 34. These loops,

if desired, may comprise rigid ring shaped members to facilitate thethreading of the ends of the tapes therethrough, or the tapes may befastened to the top of the bag by other means, such as buttons, pins,and the like. The straps 89 themselves, where they make contact with thechilds person, are of suificient width to be comfortable.

The individual component parts of the bag are further stitched or sewedtogether by sewing edges 22 and 24 of the part 28, respectively, toedges 14 and 64 of the parts 18 and 68; by sewing the edges 13 and 63,respectively, to the edges I8 and I5 of the part [8; by sewing the edges62 and 12 of the parts 68 and 18, respectively, to the edges 82 and 83of the part 88; and by sewing the edges 8| and 84, respectively, of thepart 88 to the edges 42 and 52 and also to a portion of edge 34, therebyto provide an adjustably sized sleeping bag having the opening 98therein to the interior, through which access may be had by operatingthe zipper 36.

The top part 38 is provided with a plurality of pleats 31 which may belet out as the child grows to thereby adjustably increase the size ofthe opening 98 through which the child's chest extends. Also, as thechild grows, the composite bag may be moved downwardly in the directionof the foot end of the bed to allow increased room for his head andchest at the head end, also, the upper straps 89 may be lengthened bytieing them down further on the tapes to loops 38 and 39.

An important feature of the present construction is the arrangement ofthe triangular parts 48, 58 and their association with the part 88, theapexes of the triangular portions 48, 58 being at the foot end of thesleeping bag and the edges 86, 81 of the part being sewed along astraight line to the edge l4 of the bottom part i 8 to thereby provide acertain fullness" in the bag to allow the child confined therein to rollfrom side to side and to move from a prone position on his back to aprone position on his stomach, also to sit up if he so desiresregardless of whether he was initially placed in the bag on his stomachor on his back.

Parts 48 and 58 provide a gradual tapering upwardly of the composite bagfrom its foot end to the open end 98 and the nature of the part 88 andthe manner in which it is sewed to the other parts are such that themovement of the child when in the opening 98 is not materiallyrestrained.

While I have referred to the part 38 as being the top part of the bag,the top of the bag comprises essentially the part 38 and also parts 48and 58, it being understood that, if desired, such parts 38, 48 and 58may comprise but a single piece of cloth material having the generaloutline of the parts 38, 48 and 58 as shown in Figure 8. It isunderstood therefore in the claims appended hereto the top of the bagrefers to the parts 38, 48 and 58 considered as a composite piece ofcloth unless qualified in the claims. The bottom of the bag is the clothpart I8, the sides of the bag are the parts 18 and 68 and the ends ofthe bag are the parts 28 and 88.

It is noted that the portions defining opening 98 snugly engage, withouttightness, the chest of the child confined therein so as to prevent himfrom completely entering the bag While the shoulder strap fasteningmeans 89, 38 and 89 prevent him from leaving the bag. It is furthernoted that the sleeping bag does not encompass the childs upperextremities, the bag itself being useful in warm or cold weather. Incold weather, the child may wear a tight fitting sweater or night gown.Also, if desired, the childs shoulders may be kept covered with ablanket, the edges of the blanket in such case being tucked under theedges of the mattress without fear of the child kicking off suchblanket.

It is apparent further from the drawings and description herein that thechild may be placed in the bag after opening the zipper 36 on either hisback or stomach, depending upon whether he is a stomach or back sleeper.In either case, the child may move from side to side, to a sittingposition or from a position on his back to a position on his stomach, orvice versa.

I have shown tape ties for fastening the bag to a bed or crib, heavilywoven cotton tape being preferred for obvious safety reasons, therebeing a great amount of strain placed on these tapes, particularly thetop ones as the child moves about. However, it is apparent that anysimilar method of securing the bag to a bed or crib may be used topractice certain aspects of the present invention.

While I have shown, described and prefer to use shoulder strap fasteningmeans 89 of the type shown in Figure 6, it is apparent that the childcould be fastened in the bag by many other expedients allowing freedomof its arms. For example, the means which I have broadly referred to asshoulder strap means 89 may comprise a small vest structure on the orderof a childs sleeveless undershirt having a portion of its bottom edgestitched or sewed to the edge 85, the

vest structure being buttoned at the front or aback of the child,depending upon the position in which the child is originally placed inthe opening 98.

An important feature of the present invention is that the child hascomplete freedom of movement, including particularly, freedom ofmovement of its arms, which may be obtained even though the vestmentioned above does have sleeves.

I prefer to call sleeping bags of the general construction shown hereinas Dennis sleeping bags, and for that purpose, let it be known that Iadopt such name.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appendedclaims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a sleeping bag arrangement for children, a bottom substantiallyrectangular cloth part, a pair of substantially rectangular side clothparts stitched at opposite edges to said bottom part, a first endenclosing part stitched to said bottom part at the foot end of the bag,a top stitched to said side and end parts, said top comprising asubstantially rectangularly shaped member having a pair of triangularlyshaped members stitched to opposite edges thereof with the apexes ofsaid triangularly shaped parts at the foot end, a second end enclosingmember stitched to said bottom part, side part and triangulariy shapedparts, said second end part having an outline generally pentagonal inshape and when extended to thus form substantially a pentagon havingfullness therein, and an opening defined by the edges of said top andsaid second end part in which a child is maintained, said edges beingarranged to encompass only the vicinity of a childs chest below thechilds arms to thereby prevent the child from slipping into the bag.

2. In a sleeping bag construction for children, a bottom part for thebag, a first end enclosing part for said bag at the head end of the bag,said end part being of cloth and substantially rectangular and having apair of opposite edges defining a reentrant portion in said end part,said opposite edges being stitched on substantially a straight line tosaid bottom part to thereby provide fullness therein, and a top for saidbag extending generally upwardly from said foot end to said end part andbeing fastened thereto.

3. In a sleeping bag arrangement for children, said sleeping bag havingan enclosing top portion, a bottom portion, and an end enclosing memberat the head end thereof, said top portion comprising a substantiallyrectangularly shaped central section and a pair of adjacent triangularlyshaped side sections stitched thereto with the apeXes of saidtriangularly spaced side sections at the foot end of the bag to therebyprovide a bag with a top portion extending upwardly from the foot end tothe head end thereof, said end enclosing member comprising asubstantially rectangularly shaped cloth member having a pair ofopposite edges defining a reentrant portion and being stitched to saidbottom part with said edges on substantially a straight line and beingattached to said triangular side sections to thereby provide fullness inthe bag whereby a child confined therein may move from side to side, andfrom a prone position to a sitting position regardless of whether he isinitially placed therein on his back or on his stomach.

4. The invention defined in the next preceding claim characterized bysaid top portion and end enclosing member defining an opening arrangedto snugly engage the childs chest, and shoulder strap fastening meansmounted on said bag for fastening said child within said bag.

LEONA WATERWORTI -I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

